Michael Simmons

American writer Michael L. Simmons' first association with Hollywood came in 1933, when his novel The Bowery was adapted for the screen. Simmons went on to freelance at Monogram, Universal, and Columb...
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Passion, Fahrenheit have some Globes trouble
Even though they were two of the most talked-about films of the year, Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ and Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 9/11 have hit some snags regarding the eligibility for Golden Globes, Reuters reports. Fahrenheit will not be eligible in any Globes categories because it is a documentary, for which there is no separate category, and the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. does not allow docus to be considered in the top film award categories. Passion, in which much of the dialogue is spoken in Aramaic, also cannot compete for best drama because it is considered a foreign-language film, but can be considered for best foreign film. Nominations for the 62nd annual Golden Globe Awards will be announced Dec. 13, with the winners revealed in a Jan. 16 ceremony to be telecast live on NBC.
Farrell says no thanks to 007 role
You won't be calling Colin Farrell the next James Bond anytime soon. In an interview with Reuters on Sunday to discuss his soon to be released film Alexander, Farrell, 28, was asked about taking on the 007 role, endorsed by the former Bond, Pierce Brosnan, who last week said that Farrell should get the job because "he'll eat the head off them all." Farrell feigned outrage at the thought of becoming the sixth James Bond in the series, joking he was shocked by Brosnan's suggestion and if he got the job, he just might employ an Irish accent to confuse fans of the suave British agent. "The idea of me playing James Bond got into the press, but it is not true. I would not like to do it…they should find someone the audience has no history with," Farrell said. And the hunt is still on.
Pitt visits Ethiopia on AIDS mission
Actor Brad Pitt spent four days in Ethiopia to learn more about AIDS in Africa as part of a fund-raising campaign to combat the disease on the world's poorest continent, a spokesman told The Associated Press Tuesday. The trip was organized by DATA, a Washington-based lobby group co-founded by rock star Bono, which campaigns on Third World trade, debt and HIV/AIDS. Pitt began his first visit to the Horn of Africa country Friday and left late Monday night. "It was a listening and learning visit," DATA spokesman Jamie Drummond told AP.
Burt Reynolds accuses ex-girlfriend of extortion
Burt Reynolds sued his former girlfriend of 10 years, Pamela Seals, alleging she threatened to falsely accuse him of abuse unless he paid millions of dollars in extortion, AP reports. According to the lawsuit, filed Monday in West Palm Beach, Fla., Seals falsely accused Reynolds of yelling at her and stomping on her toes. Seals told the 68-year-old actor she would publicize her allegations if he didn't agree to a hefty settlement that included support for Seals and her mother, and half of Reynolds' Jupiter home. Reynolds' lawyer, Bob Montgomery, said the actor offered to settle the matter for $1 million but Seals refused. He added Seals is not entitled to anything under Florida law because the two were never married.
Ewan McGregor makes musical theater debut
Ewan McGregor, who stars as Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Star Wars prequel trilogy, will make his musical theater debut as Sky Masterson in a remake of Guys and Dolls in London's West End, AP reports. Frank Loesser's original Guys and Dolls opened on Broadway in 1950, but next year's revival, which is set to debut in June, will be the first new London production in 23 years. The role of Masterson was made famous by Marlon Brando, who played the desperate gambler in the 1955 Hollywood film starring Jean Simmons and Frank Sinatra. The show will be McGregor's first on-stage singing role. He previously performed in theater and displayed his singing and dancing talents in the musical Moulin Rouge.
Trump's Apprentice has classroom appeal
Donald Trump's hit reality series The Apprentice is proving to be more than just good TV. AP reports professors from business schools around the nation are including Apprentice tips in their MBA programs. Denise Schoenbachler, chair of Northern Illinois University's marketing department, told The New York Post Monday students in her Marketing Apprentice class competed for scholarship money by selling football tickets and raising money for troops in Iraq, a concept inspired by the show. Trump himself has said he's impressed with his show's classroom appeal at schools such as Babson College in Massachusetts, Southern Methodist University in Dallas and Ohio State University in Columbus.
SAG announces dates
Submissions for the 11th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards close Thursday at 5 p.m., Variety reports.. To be considered, submissions must be made online at Sagawards.org or by calling the SAG Awards office. Actors, meanwhile, are nominated in five film and eight television categories. Nomination ballots will be mailed Dec. 10 and must be returned by Jan. 7. SAG members will receive their final ballots Jan. 11-the same day the nominations will be announced. The winners will be announced during the awards ceremony Feb. 5 at the Los Angeles Shrine Exposition Center. TNT will broadcast the event.
Guylaine Cadorette contributed to this report.

Milwaukee Brewers' big swinger Stan Ross (Bernie Mac) is a baseball star--a man with big talent a bigger mouth and an even bigger ego. Nine years ago he achieved legendary status by getting 3 000 base hits and was revered by his fans but had burned most of the bridges with everyone else especially when he stuck it to his team by abruptly retiring from the game. No matter. Stan spent years capitalizing on his "Mr. 3000" persona and now is just waiting for his final honor--induction into the Hall of Fame. What he gets instead however is a slap in the face when it's discovered that three of his 3 000 hits aren't valid making him only "Mr. 2 997." To reclaim his record Stan is forced to return to the field and play once again for his former team and earn those three hits--and it ain't easy. The game has changed and so has he--pushing 50 Ross is faced with both physical and mental challenges. Not only must he measure up to the new kids on the block like the Brewers' cocky power hitter T-Rex Pennebaker (Brian White) he also has to contend with less-than-supportive sports journalists especially his former flame Mo Simmons (Angela Bassett) all of whom remember the lashings they took from invective-spoutin' Stan the Man back in the day. But this time around something happens to Stan. Now hungry to prove himself he finds his love for the sport and his team renewed realizing there is a difference between having a successful life and a meaningful one. See? I told you it was corny.
Bernie Mac is a smart man. Having played smaller but memorable roles in films such as Ocean's Eleven and Bad Santa Mac has made a wise choice picking Mr. 3000 as his first foray into leading man territory. First of all Mac actually used to play the game pretty seriously so you can definitely feel the love but the character also really suits this king of comedy emphasizing his gruff sense of humor (the scene in which he tells a group of school children their favorite story character has died just to shut them up is classic Mac) while also showing off some genuine acting chops as the self-centered Stan tries to change his life. Mac can pull off the romantic stuff too if you can believe it. He clicks immediately with the always-good Bassett as the two put on a rather refreshing display of affection tinged with some obvious history from their shared past. Stan also has a quirky but genuine relationship with his former teammate Boca (as in Boca Raton Fla. because of his trademark velour jogging suits) played by character actor Michael Rispoli (Death to Smoochy). Boca is Stan's only real and honest friend'; his cryptic refrain "That's why I love you man " becomes a running gag throughout the film. Other supporting standouts include White (who is actually a former pro-football player) as Stan's arrogant protégé and Paul Sorvino as the Brewers' stoic team manager who says next to nothing--until it really counts.
Baseball movies always seem to work. There's just something about that all-American pastime that gets moviegoers' emotions stirring--the underdogs; the camaraderie; the jaded ball player; the crack of the bat; the magical home run; the peanut-chomping fans; and of course the pure love of the game. Director Charles Stone III (Drumline) captures a good deal of that in Mr. 3000 as well as adding some funkiness to the proceedings with his savvy cast and a cool old time R&amp;B soundtrack (Earth Wind and Fire gets you grooving every time). Still there's an inherent problem: We've seen this baseball formula done so many times before in better movies such as Bull Durham and The Natural. It's also highly predictable that Stan is going not only learn some lessons about life but will also impart that wisdom and inspiration to his younger teammates. Yeah yeah. Even Stan ends the movie saying "Was that corny enough for you?" It is--but that's why we love it man.

Spider-Man 2 sets DVD release date
Fans anxious to get their hands on the Spider-Man 2 DVD will have to wait a bit longer than they did for the original Spider-Man's home release. Variety reported Thursday that Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment is releasing Spider-Man 2 to DVD Nov. 30--a month later than the release of the original, back in 2002. Columbia is hoping to curb the problem it had two years ago when it shipped millions more Spider-Man DVDs than actually sold. The November release date also means Columbia can focus their attention on the Seinfield series DVD set, which will be released just before Thanksgiving. Fans will also be able to purchase a two-pack with DVDs of both Spider-Man movies for $39.95. The first DVD edition of Spider-Man 2, however, will have 10 hours' worth of bonus features and commentaries.
Publicist Lizzie Grubman gets reality show
MTV is launching a reality show starring infamous publicist-to-the-stars Lizzie Grubman, who is better know for serving 37 days in jail backing her sport utility vehicle into a crowd of Hamptons clubgoers three years ago. PoweR Girls will follow Grubman and her public relations team behind the velvet rope as they live, work and play in Manhattan, Los Angeles, the Hamptons and Miami, the AP reports. The series, picked up for six episodes, will premiere in spring 2005. "I'm looking forward to MTV viewers seeing the hard work and long hours it takes to run your own business," Grubman said in a statement Wednesday. According to her Web site, her celebrity clients include Britney Spears, Russell Simmons, Sean "P. Diddy" Combs and Gloria Estefan.
Regis Philbin sets world record
Regis Philbin has set a world record for the most hours logged on television, the AP reports. Friday's broadcast of Live with Regis and Kelly gives Philbin 15,188 hours on the tube-giving him the Guinness World Record for most hours on camera. According to Guinness World Records researcher Stuart Claxton, that's more than broadcaster Hugh Downs. "Now it's all a big blur," Philbin told the AP Thursday as he looked back on his career that began as a San Diego news anchor in 1958. "When you look back that's a lot of hours on TV." Philbin, 72, has hosted the nationally syndicated Live in all 16 of its seasons--previously with Kathy Lee Gifford and now with Kelly Ripa. In his 46-year career, Philbin has hosted numerous news and entertainment shows, including the hit prime-time ABC game show, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?.
Autographed guitars auctioned to help Charley victims
Clear Channel Communications Inc. is auctioning off guitars autographed by musicians such as Britney Spears,Tom Petty and Kenny Rogers to raise money for Hurricane Charley victims in Florida, the AP reports. The radio giant said the online auction of 43 guitars signed by celebrities started Thursday and will end Sept. 20. All proceeds will be split between displaced families and the American Red Cross. Linkin Park, Stone Temple Pilots, Nickelback, ZZ Top, Tim McGraw and Shakira are also participating in the auction, which also includes a non-musical with instruments signed by conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh and comedian Mike Myers. The guitars are being offered on Clear Channel's StormAid.com Web site.
Sheryl Crow joins Vote for Change tour
Sheryl Crow, Jack Johnson and Crosby, Stills &amp; Nash have joined the willing-to-rock coalition of musicians trying to unseat President Bush in November. Crow and the rest were added to the Vote for Change tour, which boasts a lineup of nearly 20 artists including Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Pearl Jam and Dave Matthews Band. Concert promoters told the AP Thursday the musicians will perform at some 38 shows in 32 cities in election swing states over the course of 12 days in October. Money generated from the concerts will go to America Coming Together (ACT), which promises on its Web site to "derail the right-wing Republican agenda by defeating George W. Bush." The shows will be presented by MoveOn PAC, the electoral arm of the liberal interest group MoveOn.org.
N.C. governor declares Saturday Fantasia Barrino day
North Carolina Gov. Mike Easley has proclaimed Saturday as Fantasia Barrino Day to mark the day she makes her first major singing appearance in her home state since winning the American Idol crown in May, the AP reports. Barrino is "a true testament to what happens when you put your heart and soul into your dream," Easley said in a statement, adding the singer "has shown through her amazing talent and larger-than-life personality that goodness does really grow right here in North Carolina." Barrino, who is of High Point, will perform in Winston-Salem with fellow American Idol contestants Saturday night, on the American Idols Tour 2004.
Neverland manager testifies in pretrial hearing
The property manager of Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch testified Friday that sheriff's deputies last year searched areas of the estate not specified in a warrant, The Associated Press reports. The testimony came at a pretrial hearing in which defense attorneys are trying to limit the evidence prosecutors can produce at Jackson's Jan. 31 trial. During the hearing, Joseph Marcus testified he initially cooperated when the horde of investigators arrived but objected when officers wanted to search areas that were not on the warrant. He said a deputy told him he would call and have the search warrant amended, but Marcus said that was not done as far as he knows, and the search went ahead anyway. Jackson, 45, is charged with committing a lewd act upon a child, administering an intoxicating agent and conspiring to commit child abduction, false imprisonment and extortion. He has pleaded innocent and is free on $3 million bail.
Private eye testifies in Blake case
A 70-year-old private investigator is expected to testify before Superior Court Judge Darlene Schempp on Friday--months ahead of time in Robert Blake's murder trial, the AP reports. The request was made by prosecutors who said that because of his age, William Jordan may be unavailable at the time of the trial, the AP reports. The Baretta star is charged with killing his 44-year-old wife, Bonny Lee Bakley, in 2001. She was found shot to death in their car outside a restaurant where they had just eaten. Blake hired Jordan in September 2000, in anticipation of child custody proceedings and according to phone records included in court filings, spoke with the private eye frequently up to the time of Bakley's murder. The trial is now scheduled to start Nov. 1. Blake, meanwhile, is free on $1.5 million bail but remains under house arrest.

Russell Simmon's wife busted for pot possession
Kimora Lee Simmons, the 29-year-old wife of hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons, was charged earlier this week with possessing marijuana and avoiding police, CNN.com reports. Simmons, designer of the fashion label Baby Phat, was driving home in Saddle River, New Jersey, Monday when police officers tried to stop her car for minor motor vehicle violations. But Saddle River Police Department's Lt. Robert Breese told CNN Simmons didn't slow down or stop for police, who had their lights and sirens on and used their public announcement system to ask her to pull over. Police arrested Simmons when she eventually stopped outside her home and found a small amount of marijuana in her car. She was charged with possession of marijuana under 50 grams, eluding police, careless driving, tailgating and driving with a broken brake light before being released. Ironically, Russell Simmons, the founder and co-owner of the Def Jam record label, vigorously campaigned last year to repeal New York State's Rockefeller Drug laws, which requires long prison sentences for people caught possessing or selling small amounts of drugs. There's no telling whether Simmons' arrest will impact Life &amp; Style, the View-style syndicated talk show she is set to co-host with Jules Asner, Cynthia Garrett and Lynne Koplitz. The show is scheduled to air in syndication September 13, 2004 on the Warner Brothers station group.
J.Lo ready to begin next phase of her life
After two failed marriages and highly publicized romances with Sean "P. Diddy" Combs and Ben Affleck, Jennifer Lopez says in In Style magazine's August edition she is entering a new phase of her life. "I feel like this is my phase two, like it's a new beginning," Lopez says. "Like everything I did before really doesn't matter." Lopez, 34, says she may have been a bit careless in the past but is now in a better place because she follows her heart. Although Lopez wouldn't comment on reports she recently married Marc Anthony in a small ceremony at her Beverly Hills, Calif., home, she had no qualms discussing future film projects, adding she'd like to co-star in a film with Anthony based on the life of salsa singer Hector Lavoe.
Fahrenheit 9/11 screened in President Bush's hometown
Hundreds of people gathered Wednesday in a parking lot near President Bush's Texas ranch in Crawford, Texas, to watch Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 9/11 on a giant inflatable movie screen. Moore had pledged to come to the screening but abruptly pulled out the same day, telling organizers he wanted his movie, not his differences with the Republican president, to be the evening's subject, the AP reports. But only a handful of moviegoers in attendance were actually from Crawford. "There aren't many people in Crawford. So whenever you have a large crowd, most people will be from someplace else," Crawford police chief Donnie Tidmore told the AP. Many appeared to be foreign exchange students from Belgium.
Michael Moore vows to prevent 2000 election debacle in Fla.
Michael Moore said at a delegation breakfast at the Democratic National Convention in Boston he would make stops throughout Florida in October to focus attention on voting rights issues and try to prevent a repeat of the 2000 election debacle, the AP reports. "I am going to be in Florida and together ... together, we will guarantee to every Floridian that their vote will be counted this year," Moore told a cheering crowd. "I will have my cameras. We will put a huge spotlight on them. They will not get away with it this time." Recounts for the 2000 election in some Florida counties lasted for 36 days until the U.S. Supreme Court halted them. President Bush won a 537-vote victory in the state and enough electoral votes to win the presidency. Moore also promised to donate money to bring "an army of lawyers" who will serve as poll watchers in November.
Cosby defends remarks on blacks
Bill Cosby, who made headlines in May when he accused the black community of squandering opportunities the civil rights movement gave them, is still standing by his remarks. "I'm going to keep on saying what I've been saying," Cosby told the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education, a group representing 118 historically black colleges and universities nationwide, on Wednesday. The AP reports Cosby also commented music industry glorifies music that demeans women, praises life in jail and uses profanity, adding that college educators should prepare students to help poor blacks from backgrounds of violence and single-mother households.
Lil' Kim's business manager charged
Lil' Kim's manager has been charged in the ongoing perjury and obstruction of justice case against the rapper, who faces trial for lying about a 2001 shootout outside a Manhattan radio station involving members of her entourage. One man from a rival rap group was injured in the shooting. Hillary Weston, 49, was charged with two obstruction of justice counts for withholding documents from a grand jury investigation of the shooting, Reuters reports. Lil' Kim, whose real name is Kimberly Jones, was first indicted in April and is charged with one count of conspiracy, three counts of perjury, three counts of making false statements and one count of obstruction. The 28-year-old singer had been scheduled to go on trial Nov. 15, but U.S. District Judge Gerard Lynch delayed the case until Feb. 28 to give the defense lawyers more time to prepare.
Electra makes appearance in Playboy video game
Carmen Electra and Tom Arnold are among the celebrities making cameos in the new video game Playboy: The Mansion, the AP reports. In the game, players don the pajamas of Playboy impresario Hugh Hefner and are given the task of building the Playboy empire by developing contacts, keeping the bunnies happy, selling magazines and, of course, throwing lavish parties. Other featured celebrities include David Copperfield, Willa Ford, Jose Canseco, Uncle Kracker, Andrew W.K. and Melissa Joan Hart.
Blob director dies
Irvin Shortess "Shorty" Yeaworth Jr., best known for directing the 1958 cult movie The Blob, died in a car accident in Jordan, AP reports. He was 78. Yeaworth was traveling from Aqaba to Amman when his vehicle went off the road near Petra on July 19, his wife Jean Bruce Yeaworth told AP.
Kit Bowen contributed to this report.

DMX "done started something"
DMX is reportedly the star of his very own crime song. The rapper-actor was arrested last night on charges that he and another man tried to steal a car in a parking lot of New York's Kennedy Airport, The Associated Press reports. According to authorities, DMX, whose real name is Earl Simmons, and cohort Jackie Hudgins were arrested after Port Authority police interrupted a dispute between the two and another man whose car they allegedly tried to steal. Simmons and Hudgins were arrested on charges of attempted robbery, criminal impersonation and criminal mischief were taken to central booking in Queens late Thursday. Tony Ciavolella, a Port Authority spokesman, told the AP a preliminary investigation indicated that Simmons may have identified himself as a federal agent. This isn't Simmons' first run-in with the law. In 1999, he was fined and ordered to make public service announcements for the Humane Society after police found crack pipes, a pistol and 13 pit bulls at his home in Teaneck, N.J. At the time, Simmons pleaded guilty to animal cruelty, disorderly conduct and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Conservative group challenges Fahrenheit TV spots
The group Citizens United has asked the Federal Election Commission to investigate whether TV ads for Michael Moore's anti-Bush documentary Fahrenheit 9/11 violate a campaign finance law that prohibits the use of corporate money to air ads identifying a presidential candidate in the 30 days before his party's nominating convention and the 60 days before the Nov. 2 election, the AP reports. Moore, whose documentary opens nationwide Friday, said he would fight the complaint. "It's a violation of my First Amendment rights that I cannot advertise my movie. It's a movie," he said. "I have not publicly endorsed John Kerry. I am an independent, I am not a member of the Democratic Party." It is unlikely the commission will act in time to affect the ad campaign for Fahrenheit 9/11 since issuing a ruling on the complaint could take months.
Ashley Olsen cancels trip to be with Mary-Kate
Ashley Olsen, who had been scheduled to attend next week's premiere of New York Minute in Melbourne, Australian, has canceled the trip to stay near her twin sister, Mary-Kate, who is being treated for "a health-related issue," the AP reports. "Ashley Olsen has decided to be with her family at this time," Robert Thorne, chief executive of the Olsen twins' Dualstar Entertainment Group, said in a statement Thursday. "While it is unfortunate that plans have been canceled, Mary-Kate and Ashley appreciate everyone's support and understanding at this time. They look forward to coming to Australia and New Zealand in the very near future." Earlier this week, Us Weekly and People magazines reported that Mary-Kate was being treated for an eating disorder.
Jackson hearing today to focus on sealed documents
The judge in the Michael Jackson child molestation case has scheduled a pretrial hearing today in Santa Monica, Calif., which will likely focus on the secrecy surrounding the case and the sealing of almost all documents, the AP reports. Prosecutors and Jackson's defense lawyer, Thomas Mesereau Jr., have consistently sought to keep documents under seal, an effort strongly opposed by news media outlets, which are asking that a grand jury transcript, portions of a grand jury indictment and at least 47 sealed search warrants be made public. Jackson will not attend Friday's hearing. The 45-year-old singer has pleaded not guilty to committing a lewd act upon a child, administering alcohol and conspiracy to commit child abduction, false imprisonment and extortion.
Madonna to tour Holy Lands
Kabala follower Madonna, who recently adopted the Hebrew name Esther, is set to visit Israel in October with a group of more than 100 students, AP reports. The trip is planned to coincide with the Jewish New Year, Israeli newspaper Maariv reported, and Madonna will stay in a remote guesthouse to avoid fans and TV cameras so that she'll be able to focus on her studies of Kabala, or Jewish mysticism, the newspaper reported. The singer also canceled three Israeli stops on her Re-Invention tour because of violence in the region. "It's not a good idea to go there and do concerts," she told syndicated entertainment TV show Access Hollywood in an interview last month.
The Cox/Arquettes take on TV producing gig
New parents Courteney Cox and David Arquette have created a production company, Coquette, inking a first-look deal with Warner Bros. TV, according to the Hollywood Reporter. Cox and Arquette made their TV series producing debut with Mix It Up, a home-decorating show for WE: Women's Entertainment. "We got our feet wet with our show Mix It Up which is going into its second season and enjoyed that process so much we decided to formalize our commitment by forming this company," Arquette told The Reporter. The new company already has a drama in the works, The Fall and Rise of Taylor Kennedy, being touted by HBO that will star Cox and be written and directed by Nick Cassavetes (The Notebook), the trade paper reports.
Lewinsky feels betrayed by Clinton memoirs
In an interview with British broadcaster ITV to be shown on Friday, Monica Lewinsky, best known for her affair with former President Bill Clinton, says she was disappointed at how their relationship is addressed in Clinton's smash hit memoirs My Life, Reuters reports. Claiming the scandal "destroyed" her life, the former White House intern said, "I really didn't expect him to talk in detail about the relationship. But what I was hoping, and did expect was for him to acknowledge and correct the inaccurate and false statements that he, his staff and the [Democratic National Committee] made about me when they were trying to protect the presidency," she said. "He says he was proud of the way that he defended the presidency, at my expense," she said. "In the process he destroyed me, and that was the way he was going to have to do that, to get through impeachment," Lewinsky added. "I was a young girl and to hear him saying some of the things he was saying today--it's a shame."
DVD-encrypted players in the works
Anti-piracy technology company Cinea is planning to produce 10,000 of its specially made DVD players, the S-View DVD player, by late this summer and will ship them to the 6,000 Academy of Motion Pictures Arts &amp; Sciences members by October, Variety reports. The special device works like a normal DVD player and is capable of playing off-the-shelf DVDs, but most importantly, will be able to play the encrypted DVDs distributed by studios during Oscar voting time, in hopes of avoiding any piracy issues. If any screeners do leak out with the new technology, watermarks would allow Cinea to trace a pirated copy back not only to the member who received the disc, but the time at which the illegal copy was made. Cinea execs stressed, however, that the only way pirated copies could be made would be with a camcorder recording the television screen or by a tech expert with access to one of the new S-View players, Variety reports.
Kit Bowen contributed to this report.

Top Story: China Wants Britney To Cover Up
Pop princess Britney Spears, who is set to perform five concerts in Shanghai and Beijing sometime next year on a world tour to promote her album In the Zone, may have to make a few wardrobe adjustments for her first tour in China. The Associated Press reported Tuesday officials from the country's Culture Ministry want to know what Spears will be wearing before she hits the stage on her Onyx Hotel Tour because of concerns the singer may be revealing too much skin. The official China News Service quoted a spokesman for the concert's Chinese organizers as saying the ministry's wishes would be respected, but added that Spears' outfits and stage show are the same at each tour stop and it would be "impossible to make up clothes specially for the China performances." It was not clear, however, what standards inspectors will use or how they would be enforced. The Onyx Hotel Tour, which promises sexually charged choreography, flashy stage sets and plenty of cleavage and midriff-baring costumes, kicks off in Dublin on June 3.
Lions Gate, IFC To Distribute Fahrenheit 9/11
Lions Gate Entertainment Corp. and IFC Films have stepped in to distribute director Michael Moore's documentary Fahrenheit 9/11, which examines the link between President George W. Bush and the family of Osama bin Laden. The Fahrenheit 9/11 controversy started last month when Moore announced the Walt Disney Co. blocked its Miramax Films unit from distributing the pic, arguing that the studio claimed it was too politically charged. But Miramax's co-chiefs Bob and Harvey Weinstein cut a deal with Disney last week to buy back the film rights, giving them the freedom to look for another distributor. In a statement announcing the distribution deal, Moore took a swipe at Disney, thanking Lions Gate and IFC for "bringing good family entertainment" to audiences. Fahrenheit 9/11 opens in U.S. theaters June 25.
Howard Stern Says His Radio Days Are Numbered
Shock jock Howard Stern warned listeners that the abrupt resignation of Mel Karmazin as president of Viacom, Inc., means his radio days are numbered. Karmazin, who hired Stern in the mid-1980s after the radio host was fired by WNBC in New York, helped transform his show into a national broadcast sensation. Stern also credits Karmazin with persistently defending his show against attacks from federal regulators. "This is definitely the nail in my coffin," Stern said Tuesday as he opened his nationally syndicated morning show. "If NBC was a concentration camp, then Mel was my Schindler." But a key executive at Viacom, newly named co-president Leslie Moonves, told the AP he intends to keep Stern and his radio show, which is currently carried on about 30 radio stations around the country.
P. Diddy Won't Have to Pay
On Tuesday, the North Carolina Court of Appeals overturned a civil judgment ordering rapper Sean "P. Diddy" Combs to pay $450,000 to a man who claimed he was beaten by the rapper's bodyguards, the AP reports. Limousine driver Cedrick Bobby Lemon filed a lawsuit in June 1995 claiming bodyguards Combs had hired punched him in the head and back while he stood backstage at a Mary J. Blige concert in Winston-Salem. Combs was Blige's manager at the time. The suit cited Combs as negligent because he failed to properly train the bodyguards for their duties. At the time, Lemon was awarded a default judgment because Combs had failed to respond to the complaint within the time limit required by law. But the court overturned the ruling yesterday after it determined Lemon did not meet certain other requirements.
Another Osbourne Out of Rehab
Youngest Osbourne daughter Kelly is out of rehab and back in the studio recording her next album, her mother, Sharon Osbourne, told MTV.com. "She's doing great," the Osbourne matriarch said. "She's finishing up her album with [songwriter/producer] Linda Perry. They're still in the studio; she finishes in about a week. And she's in a new show on ABC [the drama Life As We Know It], so she's very busy right now." Kelly voluntarily checked herself into a rehab clinic April 2 to help combat an addiction to painkillers.
Producer Kelley Jumps on Reality Bandwagon
Once an outspoken opponent of "reality" television, TV producer David E. Kelley, best known for the NBC drama The Practice, has succumbed to the genre's popularity and developed a drama featuring real lawyers. According to Variety, the show will revolve around a law firm whose members will try real civil cases through binding arbitration overseen by current or former judges. Lawyers will be fired along the way, leaving an eventual winner.
Australian Crowned Miss Universe
Australian Jennifer Hawkins was named Miss Universe 2004 in a two-hour pageant Tuesday night in Quito, Ecuador, the AP reports. According to pageant organizers, 1.5 billion television viewers in 180 countries watched the finals. Hawkins, 20, arrived at a post-pageant news conference with Donald Trump, owner of the Miss Universe parent organization. "I want to present to you the new Miss Universe. She's spectacular," Trump said. "Jennifer is the most beautiful Miss Universe I have seen in many, many years." Of the 80 beauty queens who participated in the competition, 15 semifinalists were chosen after a preliminary bathing suit and evening gown showdown Thursday. The group was later reduced to 10 before the five finalists were named. The panel of judges included Emilio Estefan, Bo Derek and supermodel Petra Nemcova.
Joe Torre Wants Athletes To Change Attitudes Toward Women
New York Yankees manager Joe Torre joined hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons and business leaders Tuesday at a Manhattan theater where the Family Violence Prevention Fund asked men to sign a declaration opposing violence against women and children, the AP reports. Torre, who has spoken out in the past about growing up in an abusive household, said coaches and managers need to do more to foster healthy attitudes toward women among athletes. "You tell them to be aggressive, go out there and beat somebody up, go out there and win a ballgame, and unfortunately when they go out on a date that night they don't take 'no' for an answer," he said. The Founding Fathers campaign is running a PSA and will take out a full-page ad in The New York Times on Father's Day, June 20.
Role Call, Part I: Gibson's Tackles a Warrior Queen
After surviving the

Top Story: Cage, Presley Officially End Marriage
Oscar-winning actor Nicolas Cage and Lisa Marie Presley have made their divorce final, ending lengthy legal proceedings which outlasted the actual marriage itself, Reuters reports. Cage filed for divorce in November 2002 from Presley, after being married for only three months. According to an Extra report, citing court papers filed on Monday, the two "amicably resolved" their brief marriage, with neither receiving any kind of spousal support and each maintaining all assets acquired prior to their marriage. It was a third marriage for Presley, who was married to Michael Jackson for less than two years and who previously had two children with musician Danny Keogh. Cage was also previously married to actress Patricia Arquette.
Madonna Sidelines L.A. Concert
An ailing Material Girl had to cancel her second Los Angeles concert due to the stomach flu, Reuters reports. A statement posted on her Web site said Madonna was ordered to rest by her doctor but would be "back at 100 percent" by Wednesday. Madonna, 45, kicked off her Re-Invention tour in L.A. Monday night.
West Wing's Janney Gets Engaged
Emmy-winning actress Allison Janney, known as the sharp C.J. Cregg on NBC's The West Wing, is engaged to marry actor Richard Jenik, The Associated Press reports. The couple live in Los Angeles and have dated for two years, a spokesman for Janney said Wednesday. A wedding date has not be set as yet.
Charges Against Simmons Cleared
An assault charge against exercise guru Richard Simmons, who was accused of slapping a man at an airport, has been dropped, AP reports. Simmons, the outlandish 55-year-old known for his exercise videos, was accused of slapping a 6-foot-2, 250-pound traveler, who recognized Simmons in March at an Phoenix, Ariz., airport as they were waiting for a flight to Los Angeles and made an off-hand comment about Simmons' exercise videos, police said.
Marvel, Lions Gate Make Direct-to-DVD Pact
Marvel Enterprises Inc., which controls a library of more than 4,700 comic book characters, has chosen Lions Gate Entertainment to make at least eight direct-to-DVD animated features. Marvel and Lions Gate are expected develop eight 66-minute animated features for release on DVD beginning next year, focusing first on comic book characters such as Captain America, the Hulk, Thor and Iron Man. Per the agreement, Lions Gate will provide Marvel with licensing fees for character rights and fund all of the development, production, distribution and marketing for each title. According to Reuters, some Wall Street analysts predict this new line of animated home videos could sell as many as 1 million DVD units each.
MTV Names More Presenters for Movie Awards
More presenters have been announced for the 2004 MTV Movie Awards, which will be broadcast on the network June 10. Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Vin Diesel, Paris Hilton, Ice Cube, Ashton Kutcher, Matthew Perry, Queen Latifah and Marlon Wayans and Shawn Wayans have been added to the list of previously announced presenters Snoop Dogg, Dave Chappelle, Kirsten Dunst, Eve, Jimmy Fallon, Kate Hudson and Scarlett Johansson. Lindsay Lohan, the 17-year-old star of Mean Girls is set to host the show, with musical performances by D12, the Beastie Boys and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.
CBS Ends TV Season on Top
CBS will finish the TV season--which officially ends today--as the nation's most popular network, the AP reports. According to Nielsen Media Research, CBS has averaged 13.1 million viewers this season--up 4 percent over last year. Fox's American Idol, however, was the favorite show of the season, averaging 25.8 million viewer, winning by a slim margin over CBS' CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, which averaged 25.6 million viewers. And while NBC was down 5 percent among total viewers, the network proclaimed a season victory in the only demographic it worries about: the 18-to-49-year-old viewer. Fox was the nation's third-place network, second among 18-to-49-year-old viewers, while ABC followed in fourth place.
Just for Laughs Festival Announces Lineup
Wayne Brady, Caroline Rhea, Tim Allen, Tom Arnold and Jackie Mason are among the comics scheduled to perform at Montreal's 22nd Just for Laughs Festival, which runs July 15-25. Seth MacFarlane, Alex Borstein, Seth Green and Mila Kunis, the voices behind the animated show Family Guy, will do a live script reading of the show, which has become one of the biggest-selling TV DVDs. The festival will also host the world premiere of Evil Dead 1 &amp; 2: The Musical, a comedy based on the director Sam Raimi's campy horror classics. New on this summer's roster is Late Nite Down Under, a spotlight on the funniest acts from Australia and New Zealand, including performances by Colin Hay of '80s pop band Men at Work, and the North American premiere of James Campbell's stand-up comedy for kids ages 5 and older.
Role Call: Harrison Ford Takes To Outer Space with Goodspeed
Harrison Ford is set to star in Godspeed, an outer space-set thriller being put together by James Cameron's Lightstorm Entertainmen

Top Story: Richard Simmons Slaps Airline Passenger
Exercise guru Richard Simmons, known for his Sweatin' to the Oldies exercise videos set to songs from the '50s and '60s, was cited for misdemeanor assault for allegedly slapping a man, the AP reports. Simmons was at the Phoenix's Sky Harbor International Airport waiting for a flight to Los Angeles Wednesday when a fellow passenger recognized him. According to Phoenix police, the man "made the offhand comment, 'Hey everybody. It's Richard Simmons. Let's drop our bags and rock to the '50s.'" Simmons, 55, reportedly walked over to the passenger and slapped him in the face. The man wasn't injured but told police he intends to file charges against Simmons.
Simon Cowell's Finger Causes Controversy
Did American Idol judge Simon Cowell flip fellow judge Paula Abdul the bird on national television? Cowell and Fox are having to respond to this allegation today after online Internet columnist Matt Drudge pointed out Cowell's odd middle finger alignment during Tuesday night's telecast after the acerbic judge argued with Abdul over a contestant. And he wasn't the only one to take notice. Federal Communications Commission spokesman Richard Diamond told Reuters Thursday the agency had received a few complaints about the incident, which are generally reviewed to determine if an investigation is warranted. But Cowell is vehemently denying the allegation. "I certainly would never make a gesture like that toward Paula or on national television," Cowell said. "Sometimes I lean on my index finger. Sometimes a different finger. Sometimes two at the same time, or, God help me, even the whole hand. I never even thought about it until now."
Houston Checks Out of Rehab
Whitney Houston, who had been undergoing treatment in a drug rehabilitation center, has left the facility five days after checking in because she "felt the walls were closing in on her," a source close to the singer was quoted as saying in the Daily News. The source also said the singer is now staying at a rented home near her home in the Atlanta area. Houston's spokeswoman told The Associated Press Thursday that the report is no big deal and that the singer is still taking part in the rehab program but at another location.
Bobby Brown Back in Jail
Whitney Houston's husband, meanwhile, has been ordered back to the pen. Massachusetts Judge Paula Carey sentenced Bobby Brown to jail Wednesday for 90 days or until he can come up with more than $60,000 in child support owed to the mother of two children he fathered, Reuters reports. Local media report that Brown, who will serve the sentence at the Norfolk County House of Correction in Dedham, Mass., wept at his hearing.
Aretha Franklin Released From Hospital
Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin, who was admitted to Detroit's Sinai-Grace Hospital Saturday for treatment of a low platelet count, a blood disorder that can lead to hemorrhaging, was released Wednesday. "She responded very well to her treatment and she's doing just fine," Dr. Claud Young, Franklin's longtime personal physician, told Reuters. Young said the temporary disorder was caused either by a virus or an allergic reaction to antibiotics Franklin had taken earlier, but was not related to the singer's hypertension. In a statement released by her New York-based publicist, Franklin said she planned to spend her 62nd birthday Thursday at her Detroit-area home.
Ryan Seacrest Defends Color Pink
American Idol host Ryan Seacrest is lending his support to six boys from Ensign Middle School in Newport Beach, Calif., who were banned from a class portrait for wearing pink T-shirts. According to the AP, the eighth graders were pulled from class portrait last week because principal Edward Wong feared the color could be associated with gang-affiliated "dance crews," which hold all-night dance contests and raves. The boys, however, denied being crew members and said they wore the shirts, described as "Easter pink," to stand out in the photo. Seacrest said Tuesday he got involved because a student told a local newspaper that pink was popular among teens because it was a color often worn by Seacrest. He declared this week "Think Pink Week" and asked listeners on his KIIS-FM morning radio show to wear pink on Friday.
MPAA Wants Public To Report Pirates
The Motion Picture Assn. of America said Wednesday at the movie theater industry's annual ShoWest convention in Las Vegas that they are considering a plan to encourage customers at movie houses to squelch criminals using camcorders to record films illegally. "We are considering an MPAA camcorder reward program," Bill Shannon, the MPAA's U.S. anti-piracy operations director said. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Shannon talked exhibitors through a behind-the-scenes tour of how pirates steal and distribute films worldwide and chronicled a handful of films' fates after they were camcorded and pirated, showing how a film can be pirated in New York and then appear on the streets in China in less than two weeks.
VH1 Greenlights Michael Jackson Movie
Music cabler VH1 has greenlighted an unauthorized movie about pop oddity Michael Jackson. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the project, tentatively titled Family Values, has begun preproduction in Calgary, Alberta. It will follow Jackson's life from his Thriller heydays to his current scandal-plagued legal woes and include flashbacks to his old Motown. Executive producer Jon Katzman said the film will strive for an objective portrayal of Jackson's life. "We're big fans of Michael's. We're going to do our best to present the facts as truthfully as possible," he said. "We're not taking sides one way or the other." Jackson has not been consulted on the project, however, and he script will not be derived from any one source of material.
Role Call: Suvari Heads to Beauty Shop; Wilkinson, Hauer Join Batman Begins
Mena Suvari is joining the cast of Queen Latifah's Barbershop spin-off, Beauty Shop, which begins shooting next month.

Top Story: Angelina and Billy Bob Make It Official
Time to throw away those blood-filled amulets. Yes, the passionate but brief marriage between Oscar-winning Angelina Jolie, 27, and Billy Bob Thornton, 47, is officially a done deal. Reuters reports court documents were filed Tuesday by Jolie on the grounds of "irreconcilable differences" and uncontested. It was Thornton's fifth marriage and Jolie's second. Jolie's lawyers told Reuters the couple had reached an agreement over support and visitation rights for their adopted Cambodian son Maddox but she declined to reveal details.
Garner Takes a Break
In coping with her recent split with husband Scott Foley, Alias star Jennifer Garner took a much-needed hiatus in Hawaii and also visited her parents in West Virginia. In an interview to air Thursday on Access Hollywood, The Associated Press reports Garner told Pat O'Brien, "I have such great girlfriends, and I was able to go away with them to Hawaii for almost a week and I went home to my parents in West Virginia for a week, so I had a nice time away."
Harrison Ford Gets a Walk of Fame Star…Again
Harrison Ford will get a star on the famed Hollywood Walk of Fame Friday, even though he thought he had already received one. It turns out the other star belongs to a silent screen actor of the same name, who got the star in 1960. Ford was selected in 1984 to get a star but never responded. "Sometimes that happens with the nominations,'' Ana Martinez-Holler of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce told City News. "They'll change publicists, they'll change management, and aren't aware they had already been approved.'' The mistake came when Ford took the word of someone who informed him--incorrectly--that the other Ford's star was his, Martinez-Holler said. Whew. Glad they got it all straightened out.
Reeves Set to Make Millions Off Matrix Sequels
Exactly how much will Matrix star Keanu Reeves be making with the two Matrix sequels The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions? Good question. Variety reports the intricate back-end deal Reeves made in 1999 when he agreed to do the sequels--which included not only box office sales but DVD, video game, TV sales and ancillaries--could net the actor anywhere from $90 million to near $200 million, depending on the final estimates. His friends must be saying, "Dinner's on Keanu!"
More on Jackson's Legal Woes
The latest suit to enter the courtroom against Michael Jackson could be the singer's most costly, as details of his personal life may be revealed. Reuters reports a lawsuit brought by Jackson's former financial advisor, Myung-Ho Lee, and his firm Union Finance and Investment Corp., claims the onetime King of Pop is broke, having squandered his fortune in "bizarre" ways while egged on by a string of "charlatans." They are seeking $12 million for alleged breach of contract and fraud. Jackson has counter-sued, claiming that his trusted advisor--whom he called "Lawyer Lee"--and Union Finance stole millions from him and destroyed records to cover up their misdeeds, Reuters reports.
P. Diddy Joins Fight Against NY Drug Law
Sean "P. Diddy" Combs stood up with rap mogul Russell Simmons and U.S. housing secretary Andrew Cuomo to call for a repeal of New York's strict Rockefeller drug laws, AP reports. The laws, passed in the 1970s, can subject first-time offenders to 15 years to life in prison if convicted of selling as little as 2 ounces or possessing as little as 4 ounces of a controlled substance. Gov. George Pataki and the state Legislature have been unable to agree on how to reform or repeal them, AP reports.
Kelly Will Join Ozzy Onstage
Kelly Osbourne will team up with dad Ozzy later this year on a U.K. concert tour, Ozzy's first British gig in eight years, AP reports. "I couldn't be happier about doing my own dates in the UK and having Kelly on the bill with me," Ozzy said on the Web Site, www.ozzynet.com. "I decided that this would be a great opportunity to bring my full stage show over to rock the UK."
Role Call: Jovovich's Ultraviolet
Milla Jovovich has signed with Screen Gems to reprise her role in the Resident Evil sequel as well as to play the title character in Ultraviolet, a futuristic vampire tale. Variety reports the film is about a tough woman who finds herself the protector of a 9-year-old boy targeted for death. Backdrop is a civil war in the late 21st century between humans and a subculture turned into vampires.

Top Story
Oscar producer Gil Cates said U2 and Paul Simon, both of whom were nominated for best original song, will likely perform at the March 23 ceremony. Cates added he is uncertain if Eminem, whose song "Lose Yourself" from 8 Mile also received a nom, will perform. "Eminem we're not sure about in terms of the schedule. We haven't heard," Cates told The Associated Press. Other songs nominated in the category are "Burn It Blue" from Frida and "I Move On" from Chicago. Cates could not say if Renee Zellweger and Catherine Zeta-Jones would perform "I Move On" at the Oscars. "The reason we really can't say is, if I say that we're going to ask someone and then they don't appear, a lot of things happen. Firstly, you know that we were turned down. Secondly, the next person that we ask knows that they're a second choice. So the only intelligent answer to that question is, 'What a good idea that is,'" Cates said.
Celebs
After 2001's banner year for African Americans at the Oscars, including wins by Halle Berry and Denzel Washington, 2002 is looking a lot less diverse. This year's Oscar race produced only one black nominee, Queen Latifah, who received a nod for her supporting role in Chicago. Latifah, whose real name is Dana Owens, told the AP she hopes Hollywood becomes more accessible to people of color. "The more diversity in the body who does the voting, the more you'll see other--not just African-Americans--but Asians and American Indians and Hispanic people, Middle Eastern or whatever it may be," she said.
Movies
Charlie Sheen will star in the third installment of the Scary Movie franchise, which is set for a fourth-quarter release, Reuters reports. This latest development is part of a two-picture deal with the movie's distributor, Dimension Films, and its Miramax parent. Sheen is no stranger to slapstick comedy: He played Topper Harley in the lowbrow Hot Shots! and Hot Shots!: Part Deux, and appeared in the 1993 parody National Lampoon's Loaded Weapon I. Scary Movie 3 will be directed by Airplane! and Naked Gun helmer David Zucker.
Rapper DMX, whose real name is Earl Simmons, will produce and star in the thriller Never Die Alone under his apprentice Bloodline Films banner. According to Variety, DMX will play a gangster whose life unfolds in flashback as a reporter probes events that led to his killing. The film is based on the 1974 book by cult writer Donald Goines, who penned 16 pulp novels between his release from prison in 1970 and his fatal shooting four years later. David Arquette and Michael Ealy will co-star on the project, which starts shooting Thursday in Los Angeles.
Tenacious D, the self-proclaimed "greatest band on Earth," is headed to the big screen. According to The Hollywood Reporter, actor-comedian-rockers Jack Black and Kyle Gass--the duo that make up "the D"--will star in the film for New Line Cinema. The film's story line is being kept under wraps, but is said to be a "creation" story revolving around how the duo became the greatest band on Earth. Music video director Liam Lynch will helm the project, penned by Black, Gass and Lynch.
Tube
Fans of Fox's hit reality show Joe Millionaire are upset over last Monday's overhyped, episode, which promised much more than it delivered, People.com reports. Viewers were led to believe that Evan Marriott would make his choice between Zora and Sarah, and producers teased the final decision throughout the two-hour program. Instead, audiences were presented with a recap of the season. Scott Grogin, a spokesman for Fox, told the AP that viewers should have known better. "The payoff was always going to be on Feb. 17," Grogin said. "It's possible we were a little over the top with our promos, and we're sorry if people felt misled."
Music
Kelly Osbourne has pulled out of performing at one of Britain's NME Awards, where she was due to sing her latest hit "Shut Up." A spokeswoman told Reuters Thursday the singer's showbiz parents, Sharon and Ozzy, were concerned about a possible terror attack on London while she is there. "Sharon and Ozzy are concerned about their children's safety and they don't want them flying about while the world is on high alert," she said. NME.com added that British promoters were expecting cancellations from other U.S.-based stars, including Pink, Avril Lavigne and Justin Timberlake.
Russell Crowe's band, 30 Odd Foot of Grunts, has a new album coming out in April, and one of the tracks features a duet with Chrissie Hynde. According to People.com, Crowe and Hynde met in London last year and she has invited his band to tour the U.S. with her band, the Pretenders, later this month. Their single, "Never Be Alone Again," will be featured on the Grunts' CD Other Ways of Speaking, the band's follow-up album to their less-than-successful Bastard Life of Clarity, which reportedly only sold 156 copies in its first week of release in England.

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Summary

American writer Michael L. Simmons' first association with Hollywood came in 1933, when his novel The Bowery was adapted for the screen. Simmons went on to freelance at Monogram, Universal, and Columbia. Many of his screenplays were radio-series derivations: the Lum & Abner vehicle Two Weeks to Live (1942), the Scattergood Baines escapade Cinderella Swings It (1943), and Republic's Cosmo Jones: Crime Smasher (1943). In 1947, four years after his last screen credit, Michael L. Simmons published the instructional volume Writers' Handbook of Basic Journalism.